The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-22
MONOPOLIES.

The giant forms of empire, on their
way to ruin, towering and passing away
about make up the general scheme OF
history-weak beginnings, growth, ex-
pansion, elimination, decline and fall :
and so we 90. Monopolies, historically
and naturally, are in the course of Prov
idence; they appear, fill their office, sd-
vance the world, and go out. Assyrian,
Persian. Macedonian, and Roman illus
trate the same idea. They were all great
monopolies, achieving, preparing the way
for or shielding greater developments,
nursing or helping terminating civlliza-
ton.
In our day geographical and govern
mental limits are becoming more ana
more fixed. International law and mutual
misunderstanding care Of one another
all 'ook to the perpetuatiOn of nstionali-
ties. And life and human happiness, the
production OF wealth, and the cultivation
Of virtue and intelligence, are the busi-
ness of the world, as never before. Ana
still monopoies are found necessary Tor
progress. They seem 20 be the grand com
prehensive methods of modern ailalrs.
So it is that, for commerce and general
convenience, great trunk lines pass
under one management; great teie-
graphic lines are controlled by one
company, and great manufactures
are worked by one control. However
iealously we may see the small bodies ao-
sorbed, we have to own that great results
are reached that could only come that
way in easy and ready transportation ana
inter-communication and in abundance
and cheapness of products-in the large
and general supply of the wants OF the
human family Whether greed, ambition,
or benevolence, or a little of all, be the
impelling force, the result is the same
general convenience and public wealth.
Great and wealthy associations ana IN
dividuals threaten our peace. But the
very work Of all our monopolies looks 10
dignity and elevate the individuals that
make up the people that govern the land.
Our free air and institutions make men
that achieve fortunes, and accomplish
great deeds Education is a necessity OF
our day, and every man is made to feel
his own importance, and know the i'm
portance Of character, skill, and power.
There is nothing degrading or benumbing
in our times. For all purposes, cOmbina-
tons, clubs, and leagues readily spring
into existence to defend rights, to adj
vance prospects, and realize ideas.
The giant forms of empire in the way
of business monopolies will meet with
new powers Of social organization in
leagues and orders that will effect equili-
brium or accomplish their extinction or
absorption by the general government.
Meantime, how far shall governmental
power exert itself, and see that by legal
ly-constituted commissions all public en-
terprse shallpromote and be limited by
the public good? Dangerous and deli
cate ground!
The passage of the interstate com
merce bill shows the natural action
towards checking the power of corpora
/
to be adopted when great combinations
transcend their proper limits
We must not expect the institutions
that are the natural outgrowth OF the
age of mechanism to be perfect All
that we can do is to limit and control
them as we do the powers of government
ELECTORAL COUNT BILL.